28o BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 



thousands of the latter were destroyed for no purpose whatever, 

 A close-time, accordingly, was instituted from April ist to 

 September ist, with the entire concurrence of the fishermen, 

 who find a difficulty in conveying these delicate fish to the 

 market in warm weather. The result of this regulation has 

 proved very satisfactory. In the seven months from Septem- 

 ber ist, 1900, to March 31st, 1901, the four fishermen 

 employed by the association took smelts to the value of 

 upwards of ;{300. 



Smelts formerly afibrded very profitable fishing in the tidal 

 waters of the Thames, but were driven away by the wholesale 

 pollution which destroyed the nobler salmon. Now, however, 

 that the current has been purified by the joint action of the 

 London County Council and the Thames Conservancy, smelts 

 once more ascend in large shoals as high as Teddington. 

 There and at Richmond they have afforded sport in three or 

 four successive years to juvenile anglers with a red worm ; 

 nevertheless, smelts are scarcely entitled to rank as game fish. 



